Cap for aerosol container



13, 1968 E. F- OPPASSER 3,396,866

- CA NER 7 Filed Dec 6.1966

INVENTOR: EDWARD F OPPASSER United States Patent 3,396,866 CAP FOR AEROSOL CONTAINER Edward F. Oppasser, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Alberto- Culver Company, Melrose Park, IlL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 599,462 6 Claims. (Cl. 22060) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A molded cap for an aerosol container having a peripheral flange where the cap is applied, retained, and removed by the action of internal rib means which provide transverse shoulders for engaging the flange top, axial shoulders for engaging the flange sides, slight inward protuberances for engaging the flange bottoms, and lower beveled surfaces for guiding the cap onto the flange.

Summary This invention relates to a cap, and more particularly, to a cap suited for assembly on an aerosol container.

Aerosol container caps have been known, but they have, in general, had inherent disadvantages both in the manufacturing of the cap and in the assembling of the cap on the container and removal therefrom.

The cap of the present invention overcomes many prior art disadvantages and provides a cap which is economically and easily manufactured, easily assembled on a container, and structurally strong to provide additional bracing strength when stacked for display.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cap which is easily assembled to an aerosol container by including means for guiding the cap onto the container and means for centering the cap over an upper peripheral flange of the container during assembly. Assembly is further facilitated by providing an improved grip on the cap by means of serrations around its external circumference and a passage for trapped air when the cap is secured to the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap for an aerosol container which is economically manufactured by minimizing the undercut surfaces which obstruct the ejection of the mold.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol container cap which is adaptable to a wide variation of tolerances of the metal flange which it engages in an assembled state.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol container cap which, in assembled condition, firmly engages an upper peripheral flange on the container thereby providing bracing strength for the combination; and yet one which is conveniently and readily removed from the container.

Briefly, the above objects are accomplished by providing an integral molded cup-shaped member with cylindrical side walls depending from a top, and a plurality of equally-spaced ribs integral with the interior of the side wall and the cap top. Each rib is provided with a radial recess forming an upper shoulder which limits the axial movement of the cap by engaging the upper peripheral flange of the container. The rib at the lower portion of the recess has a protuberance which bears against the bottom surface of the flange in snug engagement. The radial width of the ribs may have a slight draft from the recess to the top of the cap for facilitating mold ejection during manufacture; hence, the only undercut surface over which a mold must be moved is the small radial protuberance defining the lower edge of the recess.

3,396,866 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 Detailed description Other advantages of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, accompanied by the attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol container cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectioned side elevational view of the cap of FIG. 1 assembled on an aerosol container;

FIG. 3 is a front close-up view of the recess provided in each of the ribs of the cap of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a close-up side view of the protuberance for engaging a container flange.

Referring then to the drawing, identical reference numerals will refer to like elements in the different views. The general outline of the cap is defined by a cup-shaped member 10. The cup-shaped member 10 comprises a circular top segment 12 having an integral depending generally cylindrical side walls 14 terminating in an open bottom. The exterior surface of the side wall 14 is serrated continuously about its circumference with the ridges formed by the serrations 29 extending axially of the cylindrical side wall 14. The serrations perform the twofold function of providing a gripping surface for assembly and removal of the cap as well as covering up the manufacturing sink marks which occur in the side wall due to the extra bulk of the interior ribs which will be described in more detail directly.

Integral with the interior of the side wall 14 are three elongated ribs extending longitudinally of the side wall 14 from the top 12. The ribs may have a draft for further facilitating mold ejection. Two of the ribs, 16 and 17, can be seen in FIG. 1. The third cannot be seen because of the perspective view. All have the same structure and only one need be described in detail to understand the form of the others.

As seen in FIG. 2, the rib 16 extend as solid continuous elements from the upper closed top portion 12 to a radial inwardly extending shoulder portion 18 which abuts the top of a peripheral flange 20 on an aerosol container 21. When assembled cans are stacked, the force is transmitted from the top of the cap through the ribs to the flange of the container. For purposes of illustration, the flange 20 on aerosol container 21 is shown as a rolled edge, but broadly it need not be so. The rib 16 may have a slight taper, as mentioned, for facilitating the manufacture of the cap by reducing obstructions to mold ejection. As shown, the shoulders 18 are substantially horizontal and terminate at their inner ends without extending downwardly, thereby facilitating free outward adjustment on the container flange.

The shoulder 18 of rib 16 together with an axial shoulder 16a, and node 22 which is a slight radial extension or protuberance from the rib 16, define a recess for receiving and snugly engaging respectively the top, side, and bottom of flange 20 of the aerosol container 21.

As seen in the close-up view of FIGS. 3 and 4, the bearing surface of the protuberance 22 can take a generally hemispherical form. As shown in FIG. 2, the protuberance 22 extends radially inward of the side wall 14 beneath the bottom edge portion of the flange 20 by an amount sufficient to grip the flange 20 in cooperation with the shoulder 18, but not so strongly that removal of the cap is difficult. The axial shoulders 16a as shown in FIG. 2 are substantially vertical and bear against the side surface of flange 20.

The lower end of rib 16 is provided with a beveled surface 26 extending from the protuberance 22 to the I interior of the side wall 14 adjacent its lower end. These lower beveled surfaces on each of the interior ribs cooperate to center the cap on the flange 20 during assembly, and to guide flange 20 onto and over protuberances The interior of the lower end portion of the cap, that is, the end away from top 12, is chamfered for further assisting the guiding of cap onto the container 21 during the initial stages of assembly, and for allowing the escape of trapped air from the interior of the cap when it is placed on the container. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the beveled surface 28 is generally in alignment with the rib beveled surfaces 26. Previously, caps have been provided with an interior chamfer for guiding them onto the container, but they have been susceptible of cracking at this thinner segment, and therefore, an outwardly extending reinforcing rim 30 extending radially of the chamfer 21 has been provided. As shown, the rim 30 is preferably opposite the beveled portion 28, and the beveled rib surfaces 26 extend substantially to the surface 28.

It will be noted that the reinforcing rim 30 also provides an aesthetic function in its being located relative to the container 21 such that the side walls of the container 21 and the outer side wall 14 appear to be a continuous surface when viewed in silhouette. In addition, the reinforcing rim 30 interrupts and provides a lower termination for the axial serrations 29 on the external surface of the side wall 14, thereby preventing discomfort in handling as in the case where the serrations extend completely lengthwise of the cap forming a jogged edge at its opening. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the serrations 29 are distributed around the outside of side wall 14 and extend for about the same length as rib means 16.

With the cap as illustrated above, wherein each of the ribs extends from top portion 12 and is provided with a radial protuberance and a recess defining shoulders 18 and 16a for snugly engaging the upper peripheral flange of the aerosol container, additional bracing strength is added to the assembled container and cap. This is advantageous in stacking the cans so that the cap will not settle on the container and will not be accidentally dislodged if the container is dropped.

From the above description, it can be seen that the container cap of the present invention is an easily manufactured, conveniently assembled cap which provides additional structural strength in an assembled position. It will also be noted that the cap is uniquely suited for storage and assembly at different ambient temperatures and with flanges of varying tolerances, in that it is capable of being distorted to adjust for variations in tolerances in the upper flange of the container on which it is assembled. As indicated by the shading in the drawings, the cap is formed of a molded plastic, as is well known in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A cap for an aerosol container having an upper peripheral flange with top, side, and bottom surfaces, comprising a molded integral cup-shaped member providing a generally cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from a closed upper end portion to an open bottom, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rib means integra-l with said side wall extending axially downward along its inner surface from said closed end portion, said rib means providing in combination an inwardly extending transverse shoulder for engaging the top surface of said container flange, an axial shoulder outwardly of said transverse shoulder for engaging the side surface of said flange, a slight inward protuberance at the lower end of said axial shoulder for engaging the bottom edge portion of said flange, and a beveled surface inclining downwardly and outwardly from said protuberance to said side wall inner surface adjacent the open bottom of said cap for guiding said cap onto said flange.

2. A cap for an aerosol container having an upper peripheral flange with top, side, and bottom surfaces, comprising a molded integral cup-shaped member providing a generally cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from a closed upper end portion to an open bottom, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rib means integral with said side wall extending axially downward along its inner surface, said rib means providing in combination an inwardly extending transverse shoulder for engaging the top surface of said container flange, an axial shoulder outwardly of said transverse shoulder for engaging the side surface of said flange, a slight inward protuberance at the lower end of said axial shoulder for engaging the bottom edge portion of said flange, and a beveled surface inclining downwardly and outwardly from said protuberance to said side wall inner surface adjacent the open bottom of said cap for guiding said cap onto said flange, said transverse shoulders being substantially horizontal and terminating at their inner ends without extending downwardly for free outward adjustment on said container flange, said axial shoulders being substantially vertical, said integral rib means extending downwardly as solid continuous elements from the underside of said cap closed end portion to said transverse shoulders, and also extend ing radially inward as solid continuous elements from the inner surface of said side wall to said axial shoulders, said protuberances, and said beveled surfaces.

3. A cap for an aerosol container having an upper peripheral flange with top, side, and bottom surfaces, comprising a molded integral cup-shaped member providing a generally cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from a closed upper end portion to an open bottom, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rib means integral with said side wall extending axially along its inner surface from said closed end portion, said rib means providing in combination a transverse shoulder for engaging the top surface of said container flange, an axial shoulder outwardly of said transverse shoulder for engaging the side surface of said flange, a slight inward protuberance at the lower end of said axial shoulder for engaging the bottom edge portion of said flange, and a beveled surface inclining downwardly and outwardly from said protuberance to said side wall inner surface adjacent the open bottom of said cap for guiding said cap onto said flange, the lower end portion of said cylindrical side wall being provided with an interior chamfer and an exterior peripheral rim, said interior chamfer defining a beveled surface generally in alignment with said rib means beveled surfaces for the initial guiding of said cap onto said flange, said peripheral rim reinforcing said chamfered side wall portion, said integral rib means extending for substantially the full length of said cylindrical side wall, and the outer surface of said side wall being provided with axial serrations distributed therearound and extending for about the same length as said rib means, said serrations being interrupted at their lower ends by said rim.

4. A cap for an aerosol container having an upper peripheral flange with top, side, and bottom surfaces, comprising a molded integral cup-shaped member providing a cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from a closed upper end portion to an open bottom, three circumferentially spaced rib means integral with said side wall extending axially along its inner surface, said rib menas providing in combination a transverse shoulder for engaging the top surface of said container flange, an axial shoulder outwardly of said transverse shoulder for engaging the side surface of said flange, a slight inward protuberance at the lower end of said axial shoulder for engaging the bottom edge portion of said flange, and a beveled surface inclining downwardly and outwardly from said protuberance to said side wall inner surface adjacent the open bottom of said cap for guiding said cap onto said flange, said transverse shoulders being substantially horizontal and terminating at their inner ends without extending downwardly for free outward adjustment on said container flange, said integral rib means extending downwardly as solid continuous elements from the underside of said cap closed end portion to said transverse shoulders and also extending inwardly as solid continuous elements from the inner surface of said side wall to said axial shoulders, said protuberances, and said rib means beveled surfaces, the lower end portion of said cylindrical side wall being provided with an interior chamfer and an exterior peripheral rim, said interior cha-mfer defining a beveled surface generally in alignment with said rib means beveled surfaces for the initial guiding of said cap onto said flange, said peripheral rim reinforcing said chamfered side wall portion, said integral rib means extending for substantially the full length of said cylindrical side wall, and the outer surface of said side wall being provided with axial serrations distributed therearound and extending for about the same length as said rib means, said serrations being interrupted at their lower ends by said rim.

5. In a cap and container device, an aerosol container having an upper peripheral flange with top, side, and bottom surfaces, a cap comprising a molded integral cups'haped member providing a cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from a closed upper end portion to an open bottom, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rib means integral with said side wall extending axially along its inner surface, wherein the improvement comprises: said rib means providing in combination a transverse shoulder for engaging the top surface of said container flange, an axial shoulder outwardly of said transverse shoulder for engaging the side surface of said flange, a slight inward protuberance at the lower end of said axial shoulder for engaging the bottom surface of said flange, and a beveled surface inclining downwardly and outwardly from said protuberance to said side wall inner surface adjacent the open bottom of said cap for guiding said cap onto said flange, said transverse shoulders being substantially horizontal and terminating at their inner ends without extending downwardly for free outward adjustment on said container flange, said integral rib means having their upper ends integral with said closed upper end portion and extending downwardly as solid continuous elements from the underside of said upper end portion to said transverse shoulders, and also extending inwardly as solid continuous elements from the inner surface of said side wall to said axial shoulders, to said protuberances, and -to said beveled surfaces.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the lower end portion of said cylindrical side wall is provided with an interior chamfer and an exterior peripheral rim, said interior c'hamfer defining a beveled surface generally in alignment with said rib means beveled surfaces for the initial guiding of said cap onto said flange, said peripheral rim reinforcing said chamfered side wall portion, said integral rib means extending for substantially the full length of said cylindrical side wall, and the outer surface of said side wall being provided with axial serrations distributed therearound and extending for about the same length as said rib means, said serrations being interrupted at their lower ends by said rim.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,831,600 4/1958 Powers 220- 2,884,160 4/1959 Abplanalp 220-60 3,123,205 3/1964 Ehrsam 22060 JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner. 

